My Admissions Essay to Art School

Some times I wish I had the guts to pull something off this daring, but i had a thought for my admissions essay that would be a little different. Its a classic, but very descriptive of me in so many ways..ok here goes.

[Cover Page]
Name
Date
Title
[Essay]
"Two plus two equals five."

And that was it. :) What do you think? No I really am not going to do this, but it did cross my mind. Maybe I should do it to apply to a different school that I don't really want to go to and see what happens? It would make me stand out, but it might not be enough meat and potatoes for them. The real essay is on the way. I'll post it when I get it done in case any of you feel like helping edit it.

Thanks All

"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that has been given to us." ---Gandalf

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"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that has been given to us." ---Gandalf

What a great anti-establishment, iconoclastic, individualistic-minded idea for an essay !

Hopefully any imaginative institution would recognize this as a step beyond Dadaism and Deconstructionism-- or even Audrey Hepburn's fascination with Empathicalism ('Funny Face', 1956).

However, life often enjoys misinterpreting our intent, until we spend years educating the world about what we mean; even then many innovative thinkers are many centuries in the grave before the world at large finally 'gets it'. We often receive the opposite of what we seek or are interpreted the opposite way we intend.

This conjures up memories of a legendary meeting between the Beatles and an early major record producer executive.

Exasperated with their seeming arrogance he snapped, "Are you trying to teach us our business?!"

John Lennon (Happy 64th, John, wherever you are!) snapped back,

"No Sir. We're trying to teach you OUR business !"

And another flip-flop anecdote:

G.B. Shaw who received an ardent fan letter from a well-known beautiful actress at the time.

The letter read,

"Mr. Shaw. The world would receive such a gift if we were to marry and produce a child who has your brains and my looks".

Shaw replied, "On the other hand, Madam, the child might not be so lucky; it might have YOUR brains and MY looks".

Then again, if you were to send this short essay sentence to a school which you loathe and would never want to attend, they might enthusiastically give you a 4 year free scholarship !

Ok so I thought what the heck. I know and love everyone here and I trust you all with my life. Well maybe not Wade :) Anyways here is my essay. Tell me what you think. Wish me luck and pray for me!

Ringling Admissions Essay
10/22/2004

My life in words cannot hold a flame to the life I that have lived. Was it fortunate, blessed, or incredible? What words best describe what I have seen, the places I have traveled, and the experiences I have been through. A vault of memories, colors, tastes, smells, and sounds encircle my mind. Each and every day there are new possibilities to explore and moments to cherish. I am proud of where I have been and the person I am, but I have yet to fulfill one of the most important parts of my life. A dream I protect and hold close to me. I have never given up on my dream. It is a dream I have fueled throughout my life, but it was set finally set ablaze by the most important experience in my life. It came when I least expected it in a truly ironic place. On my 20th birthday, after my first year in college, my wife took me to MGM studios in Orlando where she gave me the greatest gift anyone has ever given me. While we took the animation tour she told me that she had never seen me more excited about anything from the day she had met me. She saw me like a child turned loose in a toy store. As I stared into the animation pit through the large glass windows I feverishly described, with a beaming smile on my face, everything in the room to her and detailed the processes and stories behind everything it contained. Now, it wasn’t there on the tour, or at that moment, that I instantly had a revelation that I wanted to be an animator. It has never been that simple. However, it was at that moment that the accumulation of my life’s ambition came rushing out of me. I opened up to her about my ideas and aspirations like I had never done before. Everything I had done in my life was insignificant compared to what I truly wanted to do. Looking at her I then realized, she hadn’t been looking into the room like I had. She had been looking at me the entire time. Without a hesitant thought in her mind my wife stared into the vast universe pulsating in the black holes of my eyes and promised me that no matter what it takes or how hard we will have to work for it, together we would get me to the art school I have always dreamed of. This blew me away. I was given her unwavering support to finally pursue my dreams. I realized then that with the support of the one person who loves me more then life, I could at long last start my quest into my own dream and take charge of my own destiny. I changed that day. I was free.

I have already graduated from college, married the love of my life, and started a career as a non-linear video production editor and storyboard artist. I like what I do, but I am not yet doing what I love. Throughout my life I have had a deep interest in bringing ideas to life. The process of transfixing ideas from the imagination into reality is a feat of unequaled success and satisfaction for me. The medium, which I was mesmerized by as a child and have since grown to love and study as an adult, is one that I can no longer afford to let pass me by. Too long have I let the world dictate to me what it expects and what my limits and consequences are. Escaping from those limits was one of the greatest feelings I have ever experienced. It was my wife that granted me this and I am forever grateful. That self-awaking experience changed my life in numerous ways. From that day to this I have become more of the man and artist that I see I will eventually become, I have been driven to succeed like I have never known before, and I will stop at nothing to complete the tasks I have set for myself. I want to work harder and learn more. I want to push myself to the limit and then surpass expectations. I want to be engulfed in an environment where creativity and passion can supercede boundaries and rules. I found that place a few years ago, but getting there has been quite a challenge.

I went to Florida State University on full academic scholarship, took as many extra art and art history classes as I was allowed to, and graduated with a management degree. I volunteered storyboarding at the Florida State film school, which included storyboarding for an Emmy Award winning film. After college I earned a job as a video editor and storyboard artist at a local production studio based on my artistic talent, ability to learn new technology, and my experience using non-linear computer based editing systems. I may be slightly older then most applicants, but my ideas are still exciting and new. With age I also bring maturity, experience and leadership that I am eagerly awaiting to share with fellow artists and students. My entire life I have excelled in academics and sports in addition to my artistic abilities and therefore was placed in honors classes and played on advanced sports teams throughout my adolescence. I was a leader on all of my teams and graduated with honors from high school. I enjoyed the world that was constructed around me, but I longed for my hidden passion. I took as many art classes as my schedule would allow, but I was always envious of the kids who were able to fill their schedules with art classes while I was stuck in the academic honors classes and AP Calculus. They were critiquing drawings while I was calculating derivatives. Unable to free myself of the academic world, I took it upon myself to read, study and practice art on my own. I always wondered when it would be my turn. How long do I have to endure other people’s plans for my life? I pursued everything I did with the utmost determination and tenacity that I could possibly bare. Still I felt unfulfilled. I had to reach my dream, but grasping air has proven easier to do at times. Thankfully my parents instilled into me the mentality to never give up, no matter how hard things get or how impossible the odds may be. This simple yet difficult idea has taken me to places and brought me experiences many people will never feel or see.

That was five years ago. The dream has always remained the same, but now I am in a place in my life where I can do something about it. This is not an education that is to be taken lightly and I have nothing, but the utmost respect for the opportunity that I am asking for. Let me show you that my imagination and dedication can produce astonishing and beautiful results. I have worked hard to earn my way to this moment. I have never asked for what I have not earned, so now all that I ask for is that you give me a chance to prove it to you. I want this.

—

"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that has been given to us." ---Gandalf

I've been keeping watch as you build your admissions portfolio and I think you've put together a very nice package. Just read your essay, I can give you my opinion solely based on being a fellow artist. I'm sure there are many instructors here who could give you better insight regarding what the school's administrators are looking for.

You've written a stoic, honest account of what brought you to animation. You've layed out your credentials to illustrate you've accomplished past goals. You've described your epiphany at the discovery of your life's work(which I believe any of the artists at Ringling can very much appreciate). And you've managed to be humble when asking for your 'chance'.

The only thing I would consider is the use of run-on sentences. For example: 'I could at long last start my quest into my own dream and take charge of my own destiny'. To me, it's just as effective to say, 'I could, at long last, start my quest and take charge of my own destiny.'

I wish you all the luck in the world, but I think you've already got what you need-talent! :)

Thanks Bird. I have gotten some very helpful feedback on this and yours is great too. I will definately be using your advice in my final draft. With the help of so many generous people I just might make it. Thanks

—

"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that has been given to us." ---Gandalf

I always remarked at how, in grade school, you learn the same stuff in English, and you take it every year. It's hardly ever cumulative, but the gem is that they beat stuff into your head until you walk away after twelve of those years knowing a thing or two. Stuff that really -does- stick with you. Always be concise, don't get too flowery even if you're emotionally charged, and try to write in the same tense in an active voice. Also, try to use diverse synonyms instead of the same word throughout and in a formal setting avoid all use of contractions. As hard as it was with the tense changes (I have to have tripped up somewhere in there) I brought your 1215 word essay down to 913! Tell me what you think of how it reads.
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My life’s description cannot compare to its experience. What words best describe the fortune and the blessing? Having seen what I have seen and having been the place I have been, my mind is a vault encircled with colorful memories of tastes, smells, and sounds. Every day brings new possibilities and cherishable moments. Though proud of my personal story, one of my closely-held dreams remains unfulfilled. Throughout my years it never lost fuel, finally set ablaze by the most important experience in my life, in a truly ironic place when I least expected it.

My wife took me to MGM studios in Orlando as a 20th birthday present after my freshman year of college, but the greatest gift I ever received actually happened in the course of the visit. She told me during the animation tour that she had never seen me more excited about anything, describing me as a child turned loose in a toy store. Staring into the animation pit through large windows, I feverishly itemized the room’s contents with a beaming smile on my face, detailing the processes and stories behind them. I didn’t decide at that moment on the tour that I wanted to be an animator. That is too simple. Rather, that moment rushed forward the accumulation of my life’s ambition. I opened up to her about my ideas and aspirations like never before. All my life’s deeds paled in comparison to my true goal. Looking at her then I realized that she had not been looking with me into the room. I alone held her gaze the entire time. Without hesitation my wife stared into the pulsating universe in the black holes of my eyes and then promised me that together no matters of work or circumstance stood between me and getting into the art school for which I’d pined. Her unwavering support for me to finally pursue my dreams blew me away. With the support of someone who loves me to that phenomenal degree, I started my quest to take charge of my destiny. I changed that day, and freed myself.

Already a college graduate, and having married my life’s love, I began a career as a non-linear video production editor and storyboard artist. I like what I do, but do not yet do what I love. I have a deep interest in bringing ideas to life. The process of transcending ideas from imagination into reality is for me tireless source of satisfaction. The medium of animation, which mesmerized me as a child and consumed my interest and study as an adult, is one whose career opportunities I can no longer afford to pass by. The world harshly dictates its expectations, limits, and consequences and in escaping from the dictatorship enlightened me. My wife granted me this epiphany and its many effects, and therefore has my eternal gratitude. Every day since I see myself becoming a more accurate reflection of who I really am as man and artist, and am driving succeed as never before. I want to work harder and learn more, push myself to the limit and then pushing the limits themselves. I wish to engulf myself in an environment catering to like-minded creativity and passion. I found that environment a few years ago, but the challenge is in getting there.

Five years ago, I attended Florida State University on full academic scholarship and took as many art and art history classes as possible, graduating with a management degree. I volunteered storyboarding skills at the film school there, including work on an Emmy Award-winning film. After college I earned a job as video editor and storyboard artist at a nearby production studio based with my talent, proficiency with new technologies, and experience using non-linear computer based editing systems. My inspiring concepts are fresh and exciting despite my non-traditional age which itself brings maturity, experience and leadership that I eagerly await to share with others. My educational history is one of excellence in academics, athletics, and artistic prowess and thusly included honors courses and advanced sport teams. I led all of my teams and graduated from high school with honors. While I do not regret my level of involvement, I always envied the other kids who filled their schedule with art classes as I busied myself with advanced placement calculus and my various extracurricular activities. They critiqued drawings while I was calculating derivatives. I read, studied and practiced my craft when the academic world offered no such outlet. How long must one endure the plans of others for my own life? I pursued everything with the utmost determination and tenacity bearable, yet still felt unfulfilled. Grasping air proved easier to do than reaching my dream at times. Thankfully, my parents instilled in me the mentality to never acquiesce what is in my heart, regardless of how difficult the task or how impossible the odds. This idea, both simple and complex, allows me to feel and see what most people never will.

Today, the dream remains the same, but my ability to take action is finally here. I do not take this education lightly and have nothing but the utmost respect for the opportunity for which I ask. Allow me to demonstrate the astonishing and beautiful results my imagination and dedication produce. I do not ask for what I do not earn, but I have worked hard to earn my way to this moment. I want this opportunity, now give me a chance to prove it.

Wow Scatter you really put some time into editing that. It looks good. It is so strange reading my thoughts after they have been changed slightly by someone else. It's kind of fun. Well I have also had some other very very helpful people look it over as well and this is what I have cut it down to. 614 words. More concise, more direct. This is what I put on my application. That's right folks...
I HAVE SUBMITTED MY APPLICATION TO RINGLING!!!!!
I'm going down there next Thursday to show my portfolio and turn it in.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

It came when I least expected it in a truly ironic place. On my 20th birthday, after my first year in college, my wife took me to MGM studios in Orlando where she gave me the greatest gift anyone has ever given me. While we took the animation tour, she told me that she had never seen me more excited about anything from the day she had met me. She saw me like a child turned loose in a toy store. As I stared through the large glass windows into the animation pit, I feverishly described to her, with a beaming smile on my face, everything in the room and detailed the processes and stories behind all that it contained. Now, it was not there on the tour, or at that moment, that I instantly had a revelation that I wanted to be an animator. It has never been that simple. However, in essence, it was at that moment that the accumulation of my life’s ambition came rushing out of me. I opened up to her about my ideas and aspirations, as I had never done before. Everything I had accomplished in my life was insignificant compared to what I truly wanted to do. Turning to her I then realized, she had not been looking into the room like I was. She had been looking at me the entire time. Without a hesitant thought in her mind, my wife stared into the vast universe that existed in my eyes and promised me that no matter what it takes, how long, or how hard we will have to work for it, together we would get me to the art school I have always dreamed of. This blew me away. She gave me her unwavering support to finally pursue my dreams. I knew then that with the support of the one person who loves me more then life, I could finally start my quest into my own dream and take charge of my own destiny. I changed that day. I was free.
That was five years ago. The dream has always remained the same, but now I am at a place in my life where I can do something about it. I find that I may be slightly older then most applicants, but my ideas are still exciting and new. With age, I also bring maturity, experience and leadership, which, I am eagerly awaiting to share with fellow artists and students. I went to Florida State University on full academic scholarship, took as many extra art and art history classes as I was allowed to, and graduated with an international management degree. During two years there, I volunteered storyboarding at the Florida State film school, which included storyboarding for an Emmy Award winning film. After college, I earned a job as a video editor and storyboard artist at a local production studio based on my artistic talent, ability to learn new technology, and my experience using non-linear computer based editing systems. I like what I do, but I am not yet doing what I love.

I will not take this education lightly, and I have nothing, but the utmost respect for the opportunity that I am asking for. I know the work will be hard and the hours will be demanding, but I am ready for it. Let me show you that my imagination and dedication can produce astonishing and beautiful results. I have truly worked hard to earn my way to this moment. I have never asked for what I have not earned. So now, all that I ask for is that you give me a chance to prove it to you. I want this.

[ edit: One thing I messed up on was that I realized it only 4 years ago, but in 2005 it will be 5 years I do not think that matters all that much though :) ]

—

"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that has been given to us." ---Gandalf

I was trying to keep as many of your ideas as possible and just work on grammar and mechanics, or little tiny things that liven it up. Glad you got the kind of help you needed from whoever it was. Didn't have time to read it but I already know the gist! lol Good luck, and I hope like God to see you there...

Follow-up message deleted for some reason - might've been too direct and of no group benefit

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha Scatter that is an awesome avatar! Gotta love it! Well I went to Ringling today. It was so incredible. I will give you all the full run down monday. I am spending the weekend at my cousins house so I won't have any internet. Thanks guys.

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"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that has been given to us." ---Gandalf

I'm really quite envious. They already have most of my stuff but I want to set up an interview. How did you get yours done?

Edit: Within the next two weeks I am going to set mine up, most likely, so if you have any time recommendations or good stuff about how to compose myself in your recap, I'm all ears (and a head and limbs and torso)

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